Ephesians 5:15-18 NLT
[15] “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. [16] Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. [17] Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. [18] Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,..”
This new life, filled and led by the Holy Spirit, has considerable benefits for us. Instead of foolish, thoughtless living, stumbling along in darkness day after day, and attempting to stifle the guilt such a life produces, said Paul, let the Holy Spirit take your hand and lead you in the light.
As we have said in a previous meditation, the Holy Spirit and the Word are inseparable. To be filled with the Spirit is to be obedient to the Word by His power.
So, what can we expect from this Spirit/Word partnership in our lives? Among the many benefits that obedience to God’s Word bring to us, a few stand out for me.
- Understanding
Psalms 119:130 NLT
[130] “The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.”
Now that’s something we need, especially in today’s confusing and chaotic world. The more mess people make and try to fix, the worse life in this world becomes.
What God’s Word says finally makes sense against the backdrop of human ‘wisdom’. His Word answers the questions that have no answer in human philosophy, questions like “Where do we come from?”, “Why are we here?” and “Where are we going? ”
1 Corinthians 3:19 NLT
[19] “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
- Peace
Psalms 119:165 NIV
[165]”Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”
What a treasure in a turbulent and insecure world! Jesus said that, in the end, fear would cause people’s hearts to fail them. This failure can be physical… death from heart failure, or spiritual… emotional paralysis, depression, and even suicide.
God’s peace is the only safeguard against fear. Those whose hope is in God don’t stumble over the bad things that go on around us or even to us, in a wicked, fallen world. Our peace comes from trusting in the truth of God’s promises no matter what.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
[6] “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
God’s peace also helps us stay on the path. When our peace is disturbed, the Holy Spirit ‘blows the whistle’, calling ‘foul’, and helps us correct what went wrong.
Colossians 3:15 NLT
[15]”And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts…”
- Hope
Hebrews 6:18-20 NLT
[18] “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. [19] This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. [20] Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
Paul has already told the Ephesians that, without Jesus, they had no hope. What is hope, then? It’s not wishful thinking. Simply put, it’s a picture of the finished product.
God’s Word tells us what the completed picture will look like. A new heaven and a new earth with no sin… redeemed and perfected people recreated in the image of Jesus… God and people living together in perfect harmony forever… what more could we ever want?
- Freedom
The world craves freedom and tries to find it by kicking over every protection to real freedom. Lawlessness doesn’t bring freedom. Lawlessness is the worst form of bondage.
Jesus, again, gives us the real solution to our quest for freedom.
John 8:31-36 NLT
[31] “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. [32] And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [33] “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” [34] Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. [35] A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
What can be clearer than His explanation? If God’s goal is to have a family of sons and daughters like His Son, free from slavery to sin, then He will achieve His goal, no matter what.
These four benefits of ‘walking’ in the light of God’s Word should be enough to keep us on track. Understanding keeps us from uncertainty, insecurity, and confusion about us and the goings on around us. Peace steadies us and guides us in all our doings and decisions. Hope keeps our eyes on our future so that we are not distracted or sidetracked from our obedience to the Word, and freedom allows us to journey with Jesus without the entanglements of sinful behaviour.
God has done everything for us to ensure that we make it to the end. Our part is to keep to the path, Jesus, the living Word, because He is the only way to the Father.